Sri Lankans chasing its 1st Cricket World Cup win v Pakistan

Sixth-ranked Pakistan and ninth-ranked Sri Lanka each have one win and one (heavy) defeat so far in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. (Reuters)

• Pakistan has a record winning streak against Sri Lanka in Cricket World Cups
• After heavily losing to West Indies, Pakistan beat pre-tournament favorite England in last match

LONDON: Sri Lanka gets a chance Friday to do something it has never done before at any Cricket World Cup: Beat Pakistan.
The teams meet at the County Cricket Ground in Bristol in the only game on Day 9 of the tournament.
Pakistan has won all seven completed World Cup games against Sri Lanka, and has a 90-58 ODI win-loss overall record against the Sri Lankans with one tie.
Sixth-ranked Pakistan and ninth-ranked Sri Lanka each have one win and one (heavy) defeat so far in the 2019 edition of the World Cup, and both are likely to face a common threat on Friday — potentially heavy rain and thunderstorms in southwestern England.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 champion, beat Afghanistan in a rain-hit game to rebound after a 10-wicket thrashing by New Zealand. Kusal Perera is set to open again for Sri Lanka after hitting 78 against Afghanistan.
Pakistan, the 1992 champion, ended a run of 11 straight losses in one-day internationals with a 14-run win over top-ranked England at Trent Bridge on Monday. The win over pre-tournament favorite England was a dramatic turnaround from Pakistan’s heavy opening loss to West Indies.